Original Vintage Antique Circus Memorabilia Collectibles For Sale
BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS 
19 th Century FAT BOY PERFORMER SIDESHOW CDV PHOTO
DAVID NAVARRO, Circa 1877

BARNUM CIRCUS SIDESHOW CIRCUS FAT BOY PERFORMER CDV PHOTO DAVID NAVARRO, 1877

Very rare and original, ca1877 CDV Photograph of P. T. Barnum’s Sideshow / Circus Fat Boy David Navarro – aka: "The Illinois Giant Boy". This wonderful, CDV Photo measures 2 1/4" by 3 5/8" and is mounted on its original Card Mount (overall size 2 1/2" by 4 1/8"). The Image pictures Navarro seated in an over-sized chair and the photograph’s composition accentuates his largess.

* See enlargeable images above and below

    Manuscript text (possibly in the hand of David Navarro) on the back of the card mount reads "David Navarro Jr. / Illinois Giant Boy / Age 16 years / Weight 635 lbs". The back of the card has the mark of the photographer - E & H. T. Anthony of New York.

    David Navarro was born in 1861 to a well-off farming family in Rochelle, Illinois. By the time he was 8 years old, David weighed 165 pounds. At the age of 12 he weighed 325 pounds and, by the time he was 13, Navarro had a manager who engaged him with circuses and side shows, including those of P.T. Barnum. Before he had reached the age of 20, Navarro measured 6 ft. 6 inches tall, weighed 720 pounds and was known as “P.T. Barnum’s Illinois Giant Boy.”

    Navarro was part of an extended exhibition of “living curiosities” at Harris’s Mammoth Sixth Street Museum in Pittsburgh in 1882 that included a bearded lady, midgets and Capt. And Mrs. M.V. Bates, “The Tallest Man and Woman on Earth.” It was during this engagement that he met 16 year old Carrie Glendenning of Allegheny. Over the course of his stay, Navarro and Glendenning fell in love and had plans to marry. Both his parents and hers disapproved, citing the youth of the couple. When local papers ran articles about the “Fat Boy” being engaged to marry, Navarro took to his dressing room, refusing to work the exhibit to protest what he felt was an attack on his privacy. It was during his brief walk-out that Navarro became ill. He was moved to the Municipal Hospital when it became apparent that he had contracted smallpox. He died there about a week later with his father at his side. Navarro was three months shy of his 21st birthday.

    This wonderful and quite rare CDV Photograph is in very good condition. The Photograph itself exhibits sharp focus, strong contrast and rich, warm tonality. The Photo is clean and crisp while the Card Mount has soiling and light edge wear.

    A very rare and original, CDV Photograph of P. T. Barnum's Circus / Sideshow Performer David Navarro – aka: "The Illinois Giant Boy” and a fantastic addition to any collection!!!

NOTE:  Although we have had a number of late 19th C circus posters over the years, we have never had a piece this early (until recently), actually published while Barnum was still alive as such material is virtually non existent.   That's why this Original photo is so exciting as it was published at the height of his success and most likely Barnum owned one of these photos himself.  

NOTE:  We recently acquire SIX other antique SIDESHOW photos.  See the others below under , "Other Treasures You May Like". 

Note: Cvtreasures stamp Not on original